Sides of front seats splitting

[NoelM]

Have a look at this. I used it on an old CRX seat years ago and it worked well.

https://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk

[RuthieB]

If anybody has had a satisfactory response from Honda UK for getting this problem fixed OUTSIDE the standard 3 year Warranty period could they kindly post on forum as to how this was progressed and achieved

All contribution gratefully appreciated, thanks in advance.

[jonzo]

Over the years I've had quite a few cars with plastic seats and they've never split, what's changed

Unfortunately I think the production accountants have been at the Jazz quite hard.

I'm not a fan of 'leather' seats in general, but it does seem they're becoming the norm and they have to be cheaper to produce than a good quality cloth.

That said, my BMW is 15 years old and has 'leather' seats which are still in pretty good shape. Even on a brand like that, it is only the panel behind your lower back and under your bottom that will actually be leather so clearly the PVC has got less good.

[RuthieB]

I have just had a look at the current Honda Jazz/Crosstar Brochure (Part No: CAR-HR-V e:HEV EIL 0721 Issue Date: 11/25) and it's enough to make my blood boil.

On page 49 Honda continue to advertise interior trim on the Advance as "Fabric/Leather*" and the Advance Sport as "Fabric,suede and Leather*"

On Page 50 there is the only one solitary statement of what * actually is..... *Synthetic Leather" in small print.

At a glance, the use of the term Leather* is totally out of context and misleading in what the composition of the trim material actually is.
Advance and Advance Sport purchasers .....Caveat Emptor.

Additionally the brochure of 2020 (Part No: CAR-JAZZ 0520 Issue Date: 05/20) is breaching the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) rules in its definition of leather at that time as there is no mention of synthetic leather in the brochure pages.
(ASA is the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across all media)

I'll be sending a complaint and report to Honda UK including senior Management at customer.headoffice@honda-eu.com regarding the failure of my "Leather" bolsters on the 2021 EX and this continual blatant misleading advertising.

At the end of the day I just want seats repaired or replaced that are fit for purpose.

[nr16apple]

I've been in contact with honda.uk.escalations@honda-eu.com and, so far, had two refusals to accept responsibility for the sub-standard 'material' used in side panels - when compared with earlier Jazz models and 'Crosstar' models.  This was after my application for it to be repaired on (extended) warranty was refused via the dealer and a second attempt instigated by the Group Operations Director of my dealer was also rejected by Honda.
I would be very pleased, dfconnolly, if you pursued Honda by the same or any alternative route you have available!
In my claim I quoted extracts from about 15 individuals who have reported these issues on Club Jazz forum over the past 2 or 3 years (including one or two who have claimed successfully - in Italy, Japan and Boston) and the response was (paraphrased) 'whilst we acknowledge the evidence you have provided and claim of substandard materials, we are going to do nothing'.
honda.uk.escalations@honda-eu.com  suggest the next step is the motor ombudsman, but I'm thinking, that before the ombudsman the 'Consumer Rights Act 2015' might be useful.  It seems (I'll do more research) that for 6 years after purchase you can claim that the seller - i.e the dealer (not manufacturer - which seem unfair!) sold goods which were not of merchantable quality or durability.  Durability seems the key thing here - you surely shouldn't expect car seats which have been used, in my case 45,000 miles, to fall apart - and with the same 'pattern' of falling apart as illustrated by other contributors.

[Kremmen]

Someone needs to get a qualified expert inspection of the side panel

We know it's not the allegedly advertised leather but a cheap PVC mix unsuitable for its intended use


Just as an aside, I was on a Civic forum for 18 years and from posts there dealers are often like doctors receptionists. Some will say they have contacted Honda and a claim has been rejected but a visit to another dealer has resulted in a successful claim

Honda will refer you back to a dealer which is where your claim is, the seller

[NetworkMan]

dfconolly

On page 49 Honda continue to advertise interior trim on the Advance as "Fabric/Leather*" and the Advance Sport as "Fabric,suede and Leather*"

On Page 50 there is the only one solitary statement of what * actually is..... *Synthetic Leather" in small print.

I guess I'm just an old cynic but I read the brochure prior to buying a 2025 Advance and as soon as I saw  the "*" my immediate reaction was 'not real leather that would be too expensive.'  I then looked for the * reference as confirmation.   There is no such qualification for the steering wheel but then leather covered steering wheels are common, so again I was not surprised.

The 2020 brochure is different and the part leather is even highlighted in the short list of SR features. Perhaps there is the basis of a claim here since the benefit is highlighted and not present in the cheaper model.

[RuthieB]

I've been in contact with honda.uk.escalations@honda-eu.com and, so far, had two refusals to accept responsibility for the sub-standard 'material' used in side panels - when compared with earlier Jazz models and 'Crosstar' models.  This was after my application for it to be repaired on (extended) warranty was refused via the dealer and a second attempt instigated by the Group Operations Director of my dealer was also rejected by Honda.
I would be very pleased, dfconnolly, if you pursued Honda by the same or any alternative route you have available!
In my claim I quoted extracts from about 15 individuals who have reported these issues on Club Jazz forum over the past 2 or 3 years (including one or two who have claimed successfully - in Italy, Japan and Boston) and the response was (paraphrased) 'whilst we acknowledge the evidence you have provided and claim of substandard materials, we are going to do nothing'.
honda.uk.escalations@honda-eu.com  suggest the next step is the motor ombudsman, but I'm thinking, that before the ombudsman the 'Consumer Rights Act 2015' might be useful.  It seems (I'll do more research) that for 6 years after purchase you can claim that the seller - i.e the dealer (not manufacturer - which seem unfair!) sold goods which were not of merchantable quality or durability.  Durability seems the key thing here - you surely shouldn't expect car seats which have been used, in my case 45,000 miles, to fall apart - and with the same 'pattern' of falling apart as illustrated by other contributors.

Thanks for your valuable response on this subject, I think the refusals are possibly linked to non-availability of replacement seat bases.
I will try reporting to ASA and CAP regarding false descriptions.

I will update forum as appropriate

I’ve had Honda cars (Civic, 3 Jazzes, 1 Jazz iMA, Civic Tourer and 2 CRV 5 gen) spanning 27 years of good ownership and service experiences but this current failure and Honda’s attitude is truly appalling.

[RuthieB]

If anybody has had a satisfactory response from Honda UK for getting this problem fixed OUTSIDE the standard 3 year Warranty period could they kindly post on forum as to how this was progressed and achieved

All contribution gratefully appreciated, thanks in advance.

I guess that the answer is a deafening “NO” by the absence of any positive responses!

[Nicksey]

I keep checking my 72 EX and still no sign of wear after 35k. Me and the wife drive, seat adjustment back and forwards only.. but the white'ish grey pleather panel still looks fine.

[RuthieB]

I keep checking my 72 EX and still no sign of wear after 35k. Me and the wife drive, seat adjustment back and forwards only.. but the white'ish grey pleather panel still looks fine.

I wonder if the lighter material is more resilient than the black stuff?
All the failure pictures seem to be just the black material

[nr16apple]

Like dfconnolly, I've a long history with Honda, starting with Civic in 2001 and 5 different Jazz models (2003, 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2021) since then.  No significant problems with any of them, until seats on the latest!

[Tombola]

Is it possible for the heated seat elements are contributing to the problem ?

[Kremmen]

Yes, I posted about heated seats and PVC back in 2022

https://clubjazz.org/forum/index.php?topic=14669.msg120273#msg120273

[RuthieB]

Links for Brochures from 2020 now in next post with link..
Many thanks